(Original post by corey)
I daren't post...i fear being abused by vienna no matter what I say!

Anyway, I would vote Labour in the next General Election (which I should be 18 for!), because I think they have produced a strong economy and proven to be excellent in managing it. The recent policies introduced such as top-up fees and foundations hospitals are not about pumping more money into the public services but about combining reform with it.

The Conservative party (the only viable opposition) have been too opportunistic for me and although they stated certain beliefs in Howards Creed they seem to have already contridicted them.
Their polcies of cutting taxes yet spending on public services (at least same amount I think) do not seem to cohere and the claim they will solve it through 'beaucracy cuts' is claimed by many an opposition and it never proves to happen.

It makes me really mad when people think that this Labour government has produced are strong economy. What Labour policies has benefited the economy apart from giving the BOE power of deciding the interest rates. This Labour government is living of the structual reforms of the economy that the Tories did. Labour did not weaken the trade unions, have a low tax policy, viewed multinationals as good for this country.

All Labour has done is kept the Tories policies, and even Tony Blair knows that these have done wonders for the economy, but he still likes to spout that he has bought unemployment and inflation to historical lows and a record expansionist period for our GDP even though he knows that it is all due to the tories and he is getting all the credit for it.

(Original post by corey)
I daren't post...i fear being abused by vienna no matter what I say!

Anyway, I would vote Labour in the next General Election (which I should be 18 for!), because I think they have produced a strong economy and proven to be excellent in managing it. The recent policies introduced such as top-up fees and foundations hospitals are not about pumping more money into the public services but about combining reform with it.

The Conservative party (the only viable opposition) have been too opportunistic for me and although they stated certain beliefs in Howards Creed they seem to have already contridicted them.
Their polcies of cutting taxes yet spending on public services (at least same amount I think) do not seem to cohere and the claim they will solve it through 'beaucracy cuts' is claimed by many an opposition and it never proves to happen.

whats there to fear?

i understand your wish to see a strong economy but you would be very much mistaken in believing this was entirely Gordon Brown's doing. you also have to ask yourself, what is the point in having a strong(but weakening) economy when the product of your labour is an ever increasing bureaucratic and draconian state with third-world public services. Brown taxes anything that moves and Mr.Blunkett does not know the difference between executive and judicial.
On the point of the Conservatives, their tax policies are still in infancy and to judge its cohrency at this stage is rather premature.

Without taking anything away from your points, you have to consider what will effect you the most...no tuition fees, lower crime, an immigration policy that benefits us all, a health system that allows individual freedom and not having to worry about paying tax for getting out of bed in the morning. possibly my greatest concern is the long-term issue with terrorism, our relationship with america, national security and not sacrificing our sovereignity to a doomed EU superstate. Mr.Blair has managed to defy his party on each of those and should be praised for doing so, however, the conservatives would continue to tackle these concerns as a collective party and not as a half-hearted presidential wannabee who has no support from his backbench. i want my government to run the country, for the country.

(Original post by fred0202)
It makes me really mad when people think that this Labour government has produced are strong economy. What Labour policies has benefited the economy apart from giving the BOE power of deciding the interest rates. This Labour government is living of the structual reforms of the economy that the Tories did. Labour did not weaken the trade unions, have a low tax policy, viewed multinationals as good for this country.

All Labour has done is kept the Tories policies, and even Tony Blair knows that these have done wonders for the economy, but he still likes to spout that he has bought unemployment and inflation to historical lows and a record expansionist period for our GDP even though he knows that it is all due to the tories and he is getting all the credit for it.

hehe, it makes me chuckle when you think what Gordon taxes are doing at the same time.

(Original post by waiting2smile)
V. briefly - am tired, had 7 lessons today and now have a terrible headache: Despite all the slating he's recieved recently i still refused to see him in a negative light. Yet today - i've realised that - okay politicians lie it's too be expected - but he really has gone too far.

oh?

I have no faith in him - he's definitly untrustworthy (also arrogant, it frustrates me how he didn't get any of the blame regarding the Hutton enquiry -

he didnt get the blame because the judiciary said he shouldnt. how does that make him arrogant or untrustworthy?

also the fact he refuses to accept that he might be wrong - ever). As for his policies, i think they're worse than the Lib Dems. In fact sometimes with him trying to maintain credibility - you actually wonder, does he care at all about the state of this country? I can understand why party members resent him.

they resent him for different reasons, but your right the policies of his cabinet are laughable. drug testing in schools being a latest one.

(Original post by corey)
Ok to deal with both of your posts and present my view on why I still support Blair.

Waiting2smile, you bring up the Hutton Enquiry and how you think it terrible that he didn't get any of the blame? I understand that as it was widely said by the media that he would, however just because you didnt the outcome you wanted (or expected) does not mean that the outcome is wrong. If you doubt the outcome you doubt the whole judical system and should therefore doubt all forms of justice in the country.

A politican, admit he is wrong? Well obviously that will never happen a politician does not admit he is wrong because he always does what he thinks is right! Any thing that goes wrong was never in the intended plan and would you realistically admit your mistakes (which will cost you votes) to the electorate - I think not.

The Lib Dems have unrealistic policies in monetary terms as I have already stated. Also, taking for example there University reform which is the abolition of tutition fees which is stupid -> very high cost to maintain and will inevitably lead to the reduction in people at university which could have detrimental effects on the economies economic growth etc.

i broadly agree.

Labour is caring about the state of the country for the first time they are tackling key issues such as university funding, NHS, citizenship and consitutional reform. They have delivered constitutional reform and will soon have got rid of the archaic herdiatary peers in the HoL and they are pumping money into the public services BUT alongside that they are emphasising reform rather than just pumping money and expecting the system to fix itself i.e foundations hospitals.

erm, foundation hospitals are reform? hardly. foundation hospitals are a half-hearted privatisation measure designed to raise money for a pitiful health service while convincing the socialists that Labour really are still left wing. thats precisely what the conservatives are hopping up and down about. real reform would put real medical and health staff back in charge and allow the patient to have choice once more.

(Original post by vienna95)
hehe, two of the so-called moderates on the forum, bigcnee and kildare are the only ppl to have registered support for the communist party and the BNP respectively. extremists in sheeps clothing or is this just abit of irish indifference?

Well I can't vote anyway, so I thought I'd just register my support for the party which so clearly represents my views.

i myself voted green, having looked at theuir manifesto it correlated with my own beliefs pretty accurately. my only issue is they are anti euro. also after thta i went on the political compass thing and my results were dot on the green party so, yeah, well..confirmed me lol.

people always moan that if you dont vote for the top 3 (or even top 2) your vote is worthless. so annoyed with that ********